RHP Bruce Rondon (flu) was not available in relief Thursday. He was so ill that he was sent to the team hotel during batting practice. He was back with the team Friday.

RHP Bruce Rondon got in four outs worth of work Sunday. Rondon relieved RHP Justin Verlander with two out in the fifth and struck out C Yan Gomes on a nice slider. He faced three batters in the sixth, striking out one. Rondon seems to be comfortable with his modified windup and he definitely is going to sliders more on two-strike pitches.

RHP Bruce Rondon was recalled from Triple-A Toledo, where he was 2-2 with nine saves, a 3.74 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings. The Tigers abruptly sent Rondon home last September for what the termed "work ethic issues." Rondon said through an interpreter, "I'd like to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to come back to the major leagues, and I'm going to take advantage of the opportunity." Rondon had an impressive outing Sunday, retiring all six batters he faced, while striking out three. "If he pitches like that he's going to be up here for a really long time," Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann said. "He had a good fastball and a slider to go with it. They didn't really have a chance to hit him."

RHP Hector Rondon worked a perfect ninth inning for the save on Saturday.He is now 6-for-6 in save opportunities this season and recorded back-to-back saves on consecutive days for the first time this season.

RHP Bruce Rondon is almost a forgotten man after being sent home by Detroit in late in September for lack of effort. Rondon, 25, was 1-0 with a 5.81 ERA and five saves for the Tigers but reportedly was petulant after not making the club out of spring training and neglected his off-field work most of the season. There is at least one bullpen spot to be won this spring and Rondon could win it if he shows an improved attitude and dedication to his work. The club has said it will be all up to him because it could option him to the minors again. He has a triple-digit fastball, a slider and changeup that make him potentially a closer.

RHP Bruce Rondon, sent home by the Tigers on Sept. 22 because of his effort level, is in more trouble. The reliever was involved in a brawl with Pirates minor league 1B Jose Osuna in the Venezuelan winter league Saturday. Osuna was on first base when he and Rondon began jawing. Rondon continued to exchange words with the baserunning while walking toward first, and he shoved Osuna with two hands to the chest, leading to the benches clearing.

Rondon has been sent home by the Tigers because of his "effort" level, according to manager Brad Ausmus, Chris Iott of MLive.com reports.

The powerful right-hander has blown his last two save opportunities, inflating his ERA and WHIP to 5.81 and 1.61, respectively, but it sounds like this decision may have more to with Rondon's work ethic and attitude in the clubhouse than performance. It's not entirely clear if Rondon will be back this season, but Alex Wilson and Neftali Feliz are considered the top options to close in his absence.

Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Tuesday that relief pitcher Bruce Rondon was sent home due to lack of effort, according to MLive.com.

Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Tuesday that relief pitcher Bruce Rondon was sent home due to lack of effort, according to MLive.com. Ausmus would not elaborate except to say that the decision was reached jointly by general manager Al Avila and himself. Rondon was expected to be the closer of the future after being called up last season, but he blew two of his first three save opportunities. He got his second shot in August when Alex Wilson was suffering from arm fatigue, but he has struggled once again, blowing five saves in nine attempts. Wilson and Neftali Feliz could see opportunities to close games while Rondon is away from the team. The Tigers are 69-81, which is not only the worst record in the American League Central, but also the second worst in the entire American League, better than only the 64-86 Oakland A's.

Rondon locked down is fourth save of the season Monday, albeit in nerve-wracking fashion.

Rondon was called upon to get the final two outs of the game Labor Day, but allowed a hit and walked two in the roller-coaster outing. The reliever has blown just one save this year, but has an unsightly 6.12 ERA for the season.

Rondon issued a two-out walk but held the Royals scoreless in the ninth inning Tuesday to preserve a 6-5 win for Detroit. It was his third save of the season.

Save chances have been few and far between for the Tigers lately, but Rondon has gotten the call the last four times they've held a tight lead in the ninth inning. He had blown his last opportunity and given up six runs in his last five appearances entering Tuesday, but it looks like the hard-throwing Rondon, and not Alex Wilson, will get a long look in the closer role to end the year. Wilson was used to record the final out of the seventh inning Tuesday.

Despite blowing the save Saturday, Rondon will get the next Tigers' save opportunity, mLive.com reports.

Though Rondon's overall numbers don't look great, the Tigers have been encouraged by recent results and see a different pitcher than before, Saturday night notwithstanding. "I think you can certainly see a different look in his eye," manager Brad Ausmus told reporters last week. "He's got a more confident body language. He's attacking the hitters."

Rondon blew his first save as the Tigers' designated closer Saturday, allowing a game-tying solo home run in the ninth.

The Tigers were still able to grab the win in extra innings thanks to five straight hits to begin the 11th inning. That homer broke a six-scoreless appearance streak for Rondon and can't be a good sign for a team that just gave its closer duties to a flamethrower with a 5.79 ERA. However, the 24-year-old's 2.94 FIP implies that we're seeing some small-sample tough luck, which might be roughly what Detroit was figuring.

Rondon worked the ninth to log his second save Wednesday against the Royals.

With Alex Wilson battling shoulder soreness, Rondon picked up his second save in as many chances. The 24-year-old has been called upon for the Tigers in the past two save opportunities, but it remains to be seen whom manager Brad Ausmus will use as the closer when Wilson becomes available.

Rondon picked up his first save since the 2013 season in a 7-6 win over the Red Sox on Saturday night.

General manager Brad Ausmus said he would have continued to use Alex Wilson as the closer, but the righty wasn't available due to fatigue. Rondon would have pitched the eighth if Wilson was available. In three outings as the setup man this month, Rondon has thrown up an impressive line: 2.2 IP, one hit, no runs or earned runs, no walks and four strikeouts. He could be a source of cheap saves off the wire if Wilson ever falters.

Rondon could still get a chance to save games if Alex Wilson fails to deliver as the Tigers' new closer, but the opportunity may not come immediately, reports MLive.com. General manager Dave Dombrowski said Rondon still has was it takes to be a big-league closer, but "I don't know if he's ready to do it now."

He has long been thought to be closer material and has the highest upside of any of the Tigers' relievers. But he has struggled mightily in the big leagues. He has a 4.68 ERA in 42.1 innings pitched, although his FIP of 2.87 says he's pitched better than that number. Unfortunately, his 1.417 WHIP suggests otherwise. He has a chance to improve his stock in the 57 games remaining and if he can harness his repertoire, he could slide into the set-up role before season's end. Just wait until he shows improvement to grab him off the wire .

Alex Wilson got the first save chance following the trade of Joakim Soria on Thursday, nailing down the final five outs.

Earlier, manager Brad Ausmus said that the seventh, eighth and ninth inning roles are up in the air for the Tigers now. Wilson's save probably puts him ahead of the rest of the bullpen for now. Rondon didn't pitch Thursday despite resting the two previous days. He still hasn't put it together for the Tigers at the big league level, posting a 8.25 ERA over 12 innings, albeit with 18 strikeouts.

Rondon allowed four hits and two earned runs in 0.2 innings of work in Saturday's loss to Baltimore. His ERA now stands at 10.57.

He's been lit up twice in his last three games and to the tune of five earned runs and seven hits in just 1.1 innings of work. He's just too volatile to deploy on your roster.

Rondon made his season debut Thursday, entering the game in the seventh inning with two on and one out. He struck out both batters he faced; one went down looking at a 101 mph fastball.

He looked good, but we need to see more outings like that to believe he'll be worked back into a late-innings role. Before he tore his UCL in 2014, Rondon was expected to be the set-up man for closer Joe Nathan and he has the stuff to be a good set-up man. But for now, lower-leverage situations will help get him back into shape.

Rondon will be recalled from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday.

The Tigers optioned Buck Farmer after his start Wednesday and selected Rondon to rejoin the big league club in a corresponding move. Rondon has yet to appear in a game with the Tigers after starting the season on the DL and then stringing together some rough outings at Triple-A Toledo. He'll add right handed depth to Detroit's bullpen but likely won't pitch in high leverage situations.

Rondon (shoulder) was reinstated from the disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday.

Rondon's rehab assignment lasted nearly a month, and while health is no longer an issue, the Tigers still don't feel that he's ready to rejoin the big-league bullpen. He hasn't done himself any favors with Triple-A Toledo, posting a 10.38 ERA and 5.2 BB/9 in 8.2 innings.